Salvation is Not Performance-based – It’s What Jesus Did
This has been a tough one for me, and I think for a lot of people. This was not something I heard about in church, or I heard it wrong. I heard you had to have every sin confessed and be squeaky-clean or you wouldn’t make it into Heaven.
That’s a lie.
I don’t know if some churches use that as a scare tactic or what, but it’s not true. On the main page of this site, I go through the scriptures that show this. The bottom line is, it’s just Jesus.
What Jesus did was enough. He didn’t need our help.
- It’s not Jesus + our works.
- It’s not Jesus + our behavior.
- It’s not Jesus + how much we try.
Salvation is not based on our performance. It’s based on what Jesus did – his performance, which was perfect. He’s perfect, so we don’t need to be. We get to live in freedom. We no longer have the identity of sinners once we accept his free gift, our identity is as saints. We’re good.
This scripture has become my favorite – in 4 different versions, and it’s beautiful in each:
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.
Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
Ephesians 2:8-9 ESV
Now God has us where he wants us, with all the time in this world and the next to shower grace and kindness upon us in Christ Jesus. Saving is all his idea, and all his work. All we do is trust him enough to let him do it. It’s God’s gift from start to finish! We don’t play the major role. If we did, we’d probably go around bragging that we’d done the whole thing! No, we neither make nor save ourselves. God does both the making and saving. He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join him in the work he does, the good work he has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing.
Ephesians 2:7-10 MSG
God did this so that his kindness to us who belong to Christ Jesus would clearly show for all time to come the amazing richness of his grace.
Ephesians 2:7 ERV
So, it’s not you. Quit focusing on your own sin. Get over it. God has. Holy Spirit will nudge you and work on you over time. Know that Jesus took care of it all for you. His last words on the cross were “Tetelestai” which means “it is finished” or “it is accomplished.” The debt has been paid in full. Judgement has been served. The battle is won. It’s victory. Don’t try to do what Jesus did. Don’t try to pay on a debt that has been paid – that’s not how it works.
Go in peace.
-Tony